University of Illinois Springfield

Even as a lawsuit could nullify them, the state board of elections has begun a tedious — but necessary — task of preparing a pair of proposed constitutional amendments for the November ballot. The two citizen initiatives aim to strip lawmakers of the power to draw their own maps and to limit their terms in office.

A dozen-or-so workers sit at tables at the board of elections building in Springfield.

Sliding, one at a time, more than 105,000 pieces of paper through scanners," said Rupert Borgsmiller, director of the Illinois State Board of Elections.

Ted Marmor has studied the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. The author and Professor Emeritus at Yale sees both good and bad with the new law.

"My overall view is simple. That it's a very confusing piece of legislation, not very well explained," he said.

"It perpetuates the cost and complexity of American medical care. But it makes some improvement in the availability of health insurance and the protection of some Americans from being devastated by expensive hospital stays and expensive pharmaceutical treatment."

"It's an extremely supportive environment," said senior Brianna Werner. "Both from faculty and other students. Students come and do class projects at the (symposium). They'll take pictures with you. Take pictures of your posters."

The University of Illinois Springfield is looking for a new men's basketball coach. The school announced today that Ben Wierzba's contract won't be renewed.

He spent four years leading the Prairie Stars finishing with an overall record of 39 wins and 69 losses. His career as head coach was highlighted by leading the program to a 15-13 record in his second year in 2011-12 as the team finished 12-6 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.

Athletic Director Kim Pate says a search for a replacement will begin immediately.

Commuter student, by nature, spend less time on the UIS campus. But the University is trying a new way to engage those students in activities. There's a bribe involved, a practical one.

I'm standing in a restaurant area in the most high traffic part of the university, the Public Affairs Center. The restaurant is a dimly lit room mainly used for meetings and donor meals. In the corner a few people are sitting around a table. I sit down and plug my dying iPhone into one of the power-strips on the tables.

Political experts anticipate the Illinois gubernatorial candidates could spend more than 100 million dollars in the next eight months.

University of Illinois Springfield political science Professor Kent Redfield says Republican nominee Bruce Rauner and incumbent Democrat Pat Quinn should attract big money from donors both in- and out of Illinois.

"It’s both a contest between these two people and the interests of the state of Illinois but it’s also drawing a national conflict involving labor and big business," he said.

University of Illinois Trustees have been asked to increase tuition within the rate of inflation for next academic year.

At their meeting in Chicago next week, they’ll be asked to raise it by 1.7 % on the three campuses, the same increase approved for last fall. A Trustees committee recommended the plan Monday.

It would raise tuition for in-state students to about $12,000 at the Urbana-Champaign campus, nearly $10,600 in Chicago and around $9,400 in Springfield. Only incoming students would pay the higher rates.

An expert on campaign finance says his studies show that government funding of state level races is better for voters and candidates. Michael Miller of the University of Illinois Springfield makes the case in his new book "Subsidizing Democracy: How Public Funding Changes Elections And How It Can Work In The Future". He spoke with Bill Wheelhouse:

The University of Illinois Springfield is closed Monday due to weather conditions. UIS is operating under its essential services policy.

Springfield School District 186 is closed Monday, as is the Jacksonville School District and most other area schools.

Other colleges closed on Monday include Bradley University, Illinois College, Illinois State University, Lincoln College, Lincoln Land Community College, Robert Morris University, SIU School of Medicine and Western Illinois University,

Judy Carmichael has been to Springfield many times. She came often as a child to see relatives. But the renowned jazz pianist has never played a show in the city. That is, until this Friday night. Judy Carmichael, who also hosts the program Jazz Inspired that airs here on WUIS, will perform at the Sangamon Auditorium.

She's known as an accomplished stride player and her shows include original work as well as that of such legends as Count Basie, Fats Waller and Gerhswin.

What do Sangamon County employers see in the year ahead? The fall economic outlook survey shows they have a positive outlook about their individual business and sector, but not about the overall economy. As for jobs, nearly half expect employment rates to stay stagnant.

One of the more misleading myths about the Gettysburg Address is that it was not properly appreciated by the audience who heard it or the readers who soon afterward saw it in newspapers. In fact, many of the 15,000 assembled at Gettysburg were profoundly moved. Edward Everett, who delivered the main oration just before Lincoln delivered his “few appropriate remarks,” noted that the president’s handiwork was “greatly admired.” And so it was.

Many of Illinois' public universities are welcoming larger freshmen classes to their campuses this fall. Experts warn not to read too much into the increases. But many of the schools say higher numbers could mean that everything from the University of Illinois' strong science and math programs to efforts working to draw more students to smaller schools such as Eastern Illinois University. Blair Lord is provost at EIU. The Charleston school's freshman enrollment went up for the first time in four years to 1,254.

The University of Illinois is giving President Bob Easter a $90,000 bonus and a pay raise. University trustees approved the bonus and raise for Easter at their regular board meeting Thursday in Urbana. The bonus is part of a new incentive-based compensation plan for Easter. The bonus was based on the three-campus university system reaching set goals for cost reduction, enrollment and other factors under Easter. Easter's base pay will increase 2.75 percent to $462,375. Most university employees are getting 2.75 percent raises.

Fall 2013 enrollment at the Springfield campus of the University of Illinois is up by nearly 100 students compared to the previous fall semester. According to the official fall census, the total number of students enrolled at UIS after the first 10 days of classes is 5,137. This marks the fourth year enrollment has topped 5,000 students. Last fall’s enrollment was 5,048.

Overall, the number of freshmen students attending UIS jumped by 20% this semester. That makes it the largest freshman class in UIS history.

President Obama has plans for higher education in the U-S. His ideas are a mix of old and new, aimed at keeping college affordable for students but also trying to raise the bar on quality of instruction.In Illinois, some of what the President wants is already part of the landscape. For example, Illinois has moved toward tying a small portion of state funding to graduation rates and other metrics. The Illinois Board of Higher Education's Executive Director says some of the other changes the President is pushing won't be so easy.

The president of the University of Illinois says he hopes faculty and staff members will be able to get a raise next year. Bob Easter made his comments Thursday ahead of the start of the school year, which kicks off Monday. The Champaign News-Gazette reports (http://bit.ly/152WQuj ) Easter spoke during a meeting with faculty from the school's three campuses. He says it's his ``goal to have a salary program next year.'' Many U of I employees got a 2.75 percent merit-based raise this year.

University of Illinois Springfield Chancellor Susan Koch sat down for a conversation with WUIS on the show Illinois Edition. Topics include efforts to attract international students, a major building project, possible expansion in Peoria and getting more UIS students living in downtown Springfield.

A few weeks ago, the University of Illinois Springfield celebrated its 42nd commencement, a joyous occasion for the more than 750 graduates who participated in the ceremony at Springfield’s downtown convention center.

Though I never met him, Paul Simon has had a profound effect on my life. Some years ago, a fateful visit to the Public Policy Institute he founded at my alma mater, Southern Illinois University, solidified my choice to shift my career path from public relations and take a gamble on journalism, regardless of my fears about finding a job in a struggling industry.

The last time we conducted a formal readership survey, in 1996, some of the results surprised me. I learned that almost half of you have at least a master's degree and that more than seven in 10 of you had contributed to a political campaign in the previous two years. And most of you vote every chance you get. So we have an educated and engaged audience.

The information is old by marketing standards, so we're coming back to you this month. We're selecting a random sample of subscribers and conducting a survey by mail.

My feeling about this new year differs from the last few, when January 1 meant little more than waking up for another day. I sense more urgency, but maybe it's just personal. I mention two items on my own wish list: